How to Get Cheap Broadway Tickets in NYC

One question I get asked alot is how to get cheap tickets to Broadway shows. Regularly priced tickets to any of the 40 shows currently on Broadway can run you from $150-$300 per ticket. But there are ways to get tickets to every single show on Broadway for anywhere from $10 (Hamilton) to $55 (Wicked) per ticket. Here’s the ways I choose to see Broadway shows:

In-Person Rush $30-$49 per ticket

The most labor intensive way to go but also gets you the best seats at a great price. Not every show offers it, but for those that do, the seats are generally great, if you don’t go on a holiday weekend or get to the theater too late. Most of the box offices have the same schedule. They are open Tues-Sat at 10am and on Sunday at noon. Some theaters have different schedules, especially if the production is in previews. I’d get to the theater at least 90 minutes before the box office opens. Remember, they will not let you use the bathrooms in the theater, so go before you get there. The rule of thumb for most shows is 20 pairs of tickets per show. Some have less, rarely do they have more. So if you’re not at least 20th on line, you’re likely out of luck. There is a maximum of 2 tickets per person in line, so if you need 3, bring someone with you. The box office staff is great and will work with you. Some shows even offer upgraded rush, say $69 instead of a usual $40 for a better seat. See where they are, you can sometimes get truly amazing seats. One note, you cannot ask someone to hold your space and show up at 9:45. That’s a guaranteed way to get the others on line really mad at you and potentially cause an issue you don’t want.

Digital Lottery $10 – $49

Digital lottery is the easiest way to enter, but depending on many factors, the odds may not be in your favor. The lotteries open the day before the show, occasionally more, and you can enter to win the opportunity to buy 2 tickets. One note, the only $10 lottery is Hamilton and there’s a $15 for Book of Mormon. All the rest are at least $30, but more usually in the $40-$49 range. Entering the lottery on the Telecharge site before 10am gives you 2 chances to win tickets for the performance you’re aiming for.

Digital Rush $30 – $49

Same as digital lottery but on the day of the performance. TodayTix is a site that has a lot of digital rush, mostly for off-Broadway shows, but some Broadway productions.

Non-Profit Theater Companies

Lincoln Center Theater, Roundabout, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Second Stage are all non-profits. They offer deeply discounted tickets ($30 range) for students, under-30/35, and members. If you’re eligible, these are some of the best deals on Broadway.

Student Tickets

If you’re a high school or college student in NYC, you can take advantage of some great deals. Many theaters offer students with a valid ID 2 tickets at the student price, so they can take mom or dad along at a huge discount. Some companies even offer students a way to get free tickets. Check our Under 40 page for specific deals.

TKTS 20-50% off Regular Priced Tickets

Ah, the booths at Lincoln Center and Times Square are the easiest way to get discounted Broadway and off-Broadway tickets. You can choose the show they have when you get to the window. The pluses are that you are very likely to get tickets for something, even if it’s not the exact show you wanted when you get on line and the seats are usually very good. The minus is that your cost is going to be much higher than the other options. I rushed a show last year and the couple sitting one row ahead of me bought their tickets at TKTS and paid double what I did. If you do go this route, the Lincoln Center location is MUCH less crowded than the Times Square booth and generally opens 1 hour earlier.

Group Tickets

If you have a group of 10 or more, you can take advantage of the group ticket deals offered by every theater. Discounts can be 20-30% off regular price and the seats tend to be excellent. If you’re interested in this option, go to the official website of the show you want and go to the TICKETS page. They will have a link for group sales.